By Betty Luke
Isiolo County Anti-FGM Steering Group has called for concerted effort from all in ending Female Genital Mutilation by 2022 in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting in Isiolo town, the officials urged residents, political and religious leaders to join hands in eradicating the vice that had ruined the lives of many young girls and women in the region.
Isiolo County Commissioner Mr Geoffrey Omoding warned those abetting the vice that the security officers will soon catch up with them and have them prosecuted for the crime.
The administrator directed chiefs to be on high alert during the festive season to ensure no girl is subjected to the cut while at home.
Majority of the school going girls who are at home for the December holiday are at high risk of being subjected to FGM.
“The FGM fight requires everyone’s effort and if we can bring all the stakeholders including elders and clergy on board, we will be able to achieve the President’s directive,” Senior Assistant County Commissioner Anabel Gitonga who represented Mr Omoding said.
Sheikh Diba Nura, a cleric, said religious leaders were working closely with administrators at the grassroots level to ensure all those perpetrating the vice are arrested.
“I appeal to my fellow clerics and all Isiolo residents to shun the practice because it is harmful to our girls and women,” said Mr Nura.
Bishop Stephen Kalunyu condemned those promoting the practice saying they were putting girls and women lives at risk.
“Whoever practices FGM goes against the guidelines provided for in our religious books and we urge them to abandon the practice,” he said.
Anti-FGM Board representative Nicholas Sankok appealed to the security team to put in place measures to avert possible cases of school going girls being subjected to the vice during the holiday season.
“We know many children will be at risk of being subjected to the vice but our team is committed to getting to the bottom line of the issue,” said Mr Sankok.
FGM prevalence rate in the county currently stands at 71 percent with reports indicating that many school going children underwent the cut during the Covid-19 pandemic.
That means seven girls out of 10 in Isiolo County have undergone the cut.
Ms Gitonga appealed to stakeholders to also focus on boys empowerment saying educating them would aid in the fight.
“Let us enlighten them (boys) on the dangers of FGM because they are the ones to eventually marry the girls we are fighting for,” she said.
The meeting brought together administrative officers, religious leaders and FGM activists among other stakeholders
